Denejea Wells, 24: Mother Of 3 Found With Gunshot Wound To Chin In 2021
Her boyfriend reportedly called 911 & said Denejea committed suicide, but he fled the scene before police arrived.
A deadly incident led to a short-lived panicked search for three children on June 4, 2021. It was in the early morning hours when 24-year-old Denejea Wells was found shot dead in her Houston Acres Homes neighborhood in Texas.
It was reportedly just before 2:00 a.m. when Denejea's boyfriend, a man only described as being in his 50s, called the police to report that Denejea had committed suicide. It's said that authorities believed his story during the preliminary investigation. However, KHOU11 News states that police are now looking into Denejea Wells's case as a homicide.
Our Black Girls is an independent, reader-supported publication. If you believe in amplifying the stories of missing Black women and girls, please consider making a direct gift through PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee, or by subscribing here.
Witnesses Claimed They Heard An Argument
Another local news station spoke with neighbors who were audible witnesses to the incident. One person who remained anonymous told Fox26 News in Houston that Deneja and her boyfriend were fighting. The couple was allegedly heard screaming during the argument, but the neighbor added that they didn’t hear the gunshot that took Denejea’s life.
According to authorities, Denejea Wells was found with a gunshot wound to the chin and face, and when responding officers arrived at the scene, her boyfriend wasn’t there. Denejea’s three children lived with her, but they weren’t at the scene, either.
The Houston Police Have Not Publicly Named A Suspect In Years
“Detectives were provided information on a possible suspect in this case and are following up on leads at this time,” the Houston Police Department stated.
However, they have not publicly named their suspect, nor have they confirmed or denied that the person is Denejea’s boyfriend. A man reportedly questioned by police was named a person of interest and was later released.
After locating Denejea’s body, panic set in to find her three children. For hours, they reportedly couldn’t be located before the kids—two toddlers and one elementary-aged—were found safe with one of Denejea’s relatives.
Denejea’s Neighbor Speaks Of Last Encounter With The Young Mother
Another of Denejea’s neighbors told reporters that she once saw Denejea sitting on the steps one day, bleeding from her nose while crying. The neighbor said she advised Denejea to leave her boyfriend and get help.
“I told her to do the same thing that I was doing,” the neighbor shared. “Go to the police station. You have to report it. They’ll give you somewhere else to live—whatever it is you need to do. Like, stop playing around. He’s a clown.”
Neighbor Sinclair Gancher added, “Girl, I’m just gonna stay away from the men period, ‘cause I ain’t got time. I ain’t got time, baby. They crazy. That’s why I ain’t been dealing with them. When I see the signs at first, and they get the mess to start being violent...I remove myself, ‘cause you eventually cannot stay like that. It gets worse.”
Denejea Wells: What To Know
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
Please share this story about Denejea Wells to help bring closure to this case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number:
Agency: Houston Police Department Homicide Division
Phone: (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS
Email:
Join the Our Black Girls conversations on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Stay updated on the latest cases, developments, messages from survivors, and much more.